Roy Rogers Jr. and the Highriders Band - Western/Country
Roy Rogers Jr. and the Highriders Band
Roy Rogers Jr. and the Highriders band perform traditional western music in the style of the Sons of the Pioneers, founded by Roy Rogers. The Highriders band also performs modern country music throughout Southern California, Arizona and Nevada.
The Sons of the Pioneers started in the 1930’s as a group of songwriters from Southern California. Their trademark sound is the imagery of the old west with thick 4 and 5 part harmonies. Very different from country music, the western music lyric tradition focuses on the experience of cowhands and the feeling of nature rather than heart break drinking songs famous from country music.
Roy “Dusty” Rogers Jr. explains: “Country music has lyrics like Everyone Has Somebody To Love And All I Have Is You, whereas western music has lyrics like I’m So Lonesome In The Saddle Since My Horse Died”.
The group performs frequently in Victorville, CA at the Roy Rogers Museum and also at venues in the midwest like Branson MO, Utah, Ohio and Iowa.
Road Records staff Dom Calvano has played drums for Roy Rogers Jr. since around 1984 and Conrad Askland has played keyboards for the group since 1999 after leaving Freddy Fender. In 2001 the group also featured Phil Conti on Bass Guitar, Kirsten Renna on vocals and Sean Clavin on Guitar.
The latest album for Roy “Dusty” Rogers Jr. is being mixed down at the Road Records recording studio.